Radio Diary

Press, 31 July 1986, Page 13

Radio Diary

To mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Franz Liszt the Concert Programme this evening features a two-part programme on the pianist and his piano music. At 7 p.m. the New Zealand pianists, Diedre Irons and Richard Mapp, play Liszt works, recorded at recitals at the recent Arts Festival in Wellington. At 9.30 p.m. there is a special edition of “Talking About Music” in which John Amis concentrates on Liszt as a keyboard virtuoso, whose techniques and personality combined to hold audiences spellbound. John Amis talks to two of the finest modem Liszt exponents, Alfred Brendel and Jorge Bolet, and interviews Alan Walker, Liszt’s biographer. The programme is followed by a further recording from the Arts Festival — Michael Houstoun playing a Liszt piano sonata. Liszt is also “Composer of 4 the Week,” and his music can be heard at 9.5

a.m. today and tomorrow on the Concert Programme. “Concert from Dunedin,” on the same programme at 8 p.m., provides something very different. It is part of a concert by the Australian group, "Sirocco," four young musicians who are said to be “charting new directions in Australian music.” Sirocco uses an extraordinary range of instruments, and much of its music and style of playing springs from indigenous bush music. It is inspired by English and Irish immigrants, but expanded to include the folk music of many other cultures in Australian society. The Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh continue unchallenged on the all-night Community Network for the next three nights, Saturday being the final day of competition. There will be a special “Games Review” on the Tonight Show on Sunday at 8 p.m. looking back at the highlights. —John Hickey